Sri Lanka El Niño conditions affect over 81,000 as temperatures hit 37.5°C

Sri Lanka’s El Niño conditions have affected 81,865 people from 25,628 families across seven districts, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

The DMC said dry weather has affected 23 Divisional Secretariat divisions in the seven districts.

Due to the impact, steps have been taken to distribute drinking water to affected communities in 20 Divisional Secretariat divisions.

Accordingly, drinking water is currently being supplied to 72,153 people from 23,048 families.

The highest number of people receiving drinking water is in the Monaragala District, where 33,023 people from 10,264 families in seven Divisional Secretariat divisions are being supplied with water.

In the Batticaloa District, drinking water is being distributed to 28,523 people from 9,547 families across eight Divisional Secretariat divisions.

Meanwhile, 7,882 people from 2,537 affected families in two Divisional Secretariat divisions in the Ampara District are also receiving drinking water, the DMC said.

The dry conditions come as several parts of Sri Lanka continue to experience high temperatures.

According to the Department of Meteorology, Polonnaruwa and Pothuvil recorded the highest maximum temperature in the country yesterday (August 23), with both locations reaching 37.5°C.

Trincomalee recorded 37.0°C, while Mullaitivu and Monaragala recorded 36.8°C each. Vavuniya recorded 35.9°C and Mattala recorded 34.9°C.

Temperatures of 33.9°C in Anuradhapura, 33.8°C in Maha Illuppallama, 33.5°C in Batticaloa and 33.2°C in Badulla were also recorded.

Ratnapura recorded 31.9°C, while Nuwara Eliya recorded the lowest temperature among the listed locations at 19.5°C.

The temperature figures show that high heat continues to affect several parts of the country, particularly areas in the North Central and Eastern regions and the Monaragala District.